What you need to know about VP Sara Duterte's impeachment defense team
Sixteen lawyers have been entered as part of Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team in the impeachment case against her.
The Senate impeachment court received the entry of appearance from the law firm Fortun Narvasa & Salazar to represent Duterte.
The team will be composed of attorneys Philip Sigfrid Fortun, Gregorio Narvasa II, Sheila Sison, Carlo Joaquin Narvasa, Roberto Batungbacal, Justin Nicol Gular, Lindon Miguel Bacquel, David Ronell Golla VII, Maria Selena Golda Fortun, Clarlaine Radoc, Francesca Marie Flores, Miguel Carlos Fernandez, Michael Wesley Poa, Reynold Munsayac, Mark Vinulan, and Ralph Bodota.
Here's what you need to know about Duterte's defense team.
Fortun Narvasa & Salazar
The prominent law firm, founded by Philip Sigfrid Fortun, Gregorio Narvasa II, and Roderick Salazar III, has handled high-profile cases for over 30 years in criminal and civil litigation, corporate and commercial transactions, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution, among others.
It was recognized in the 2025 Legal 500 Asia Pacific Rankings as a leading firm in Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions.
Fortun served as one of the counsels of former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada in his impeachment trial in 2001. Estrada was charged with bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and violation of the Constitution.
Fortun Narvasa & Salazar also served as legal counsel for the Ampatuans, who were charged with killing 58 people, including 32 journalists, in Maguindanao. The firm would later withdraw due to what they said was a conflct of interest.
The law firm, in 2017, represented cigarette company Mighty Corporation when former president Rodrigo Duterte ordered the arrest of its owner over alleged fake tax stamps.
Not all of Duterte's lawyers are from Fortun Narvasa & Salazar, like Michael Wesley Poa, who was formerly an undersecretary, chief of staff, and spokesperson of the Department of Education from 2022 to 2024, and Reynold Munsayac, who served as the vice presidential spokesperson.
On June 10, the Senate convened as the impeachment court but voted to send the impeachment complaint against Duterte back to the House of Representatives until the lower chamber certifies to the non-violation of Art. XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which provides that "no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within the period of one year," including the circumstances on filing of the first three impeachment complaints.
The 19th Congress adjourned sine die on June 14. As the Senate remanded the complaint to the House of Representatives, the case and its merits will be tackled in the 20th Congress.
